What is the most common cause of weight loss in the elderly?

Unintentional weight loss in persons older than 65 years is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The most common etiologies are malignancy, nonmalignant gastrointestinal disease, and psychiatric conditions.

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What causes an elderly person to lose weight?

As we age, people usually experience muscle atrophy, loss of bone density, and a reduction in liver and kidney cells. Additionally, the loss of tissue reduces the amount of water in the body. All of this can result in weight loss that may be noticeable, but not necessarily cause for alarm.

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What is the leading cause of unexplained weight loss in older adults?

Among the most common conditions that may affect sudden weight loss are: Hyperthyroidism. Cancer. Alzheimer's or Dementia.

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What happens if an elderly person loses too much weight?

Some of the health consequences of sudden senior weight loss can be serious: Loss of ability to perform activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and grooming. Fatigue. Greater risk of falls and injuries.

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How much weight loss in elderly is concerning?

After the age of 65, it's typically normal to lose 0.2 to 0.4 pounds of body weight every year. Unintentional weight loss can be dangerous if you lose 5% or more of your body weight every 6-12 months.

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Approach to Unintentional Weight Loss - definition, differential diagnosis and treatment

25 related questions found

What tests are done for unexplained weight loss?

Commonly performed tests include:
  • Complete blood count (CBC): A complete blood count can reveal evidence of infections, anemia (which can be caused by many conditions that result in unintended weight loss), and more.
  • Thyroid panel.
  • Liver function tests.
  • Kidney function tests.
  • Blood sugar (glucose)
  • Urinalysis.

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How can I help my elderly gain weight?

Add more calories from healthier foods to your diet to help you gain weight:
  1. sprinkle grated cheese on savoury dishes.
  2. add cheese or milk to soups.
  3. add ground or whole nuts, nut butter or seeds to dishes.
  4. add soya or pea protein powder to meals and drinks.
  5. spread avocado on toast for a high-energy and healthy snack.

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What weight loss is concerning?

Your body weight can regularly fluctuate. But the persistent, unintentional loss of more than 5 per cent of your weight over 6 to 12 months is usually a cause for concern. Losing this much weight can be a sign of malnutrition. This is when a person's diet doesn't contain the right amount of nutrients.

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What cancers cause weight loss?

According to the American Cancer Society, significant weight loss happens most often with cancers that affect the stomach, pancreas, esophagus and lung.

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What stage of dementia is weight loss?

Many people with dementia lose weight in the later stages. This may be because of a loss of appetite, pain or difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia) and chewing.

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What organ causes unintentional weight loss?

The thyroid produces certain hormones that regulate the body's metabolism, so an excess of these hormones often causes the body to burn more energy than usual. Burning more energy and calories can lead to unintentional or unexplained weight loss.

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Why do older people lose weight without trying?

Unintentional weight loss in persons older than 65 years is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The most common etiologies are malignancy, nonmalignant gastrointestinal disease, and psychiatric conditions.

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What medical condition causes rapid weight loss?

mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) problems with digestion, such as coeliac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) other health conditions, such as an overactive thyroid, type 2 diabetes or heart failure.

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When should you worry about weight loss?

If you're losing weight without trying and you're concerned about it, consult your health care provider. As a rule of thumb, losing more than 5% of your weight over 6 to 12 months may indicate a problem.

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How do I stop losing weight when I get older?

How to lose weight without making yourself look older
  1. Take your time. ...
  2. Drink more water. ...
  3. Take collagen supplements. ...
  4. Avoid yo-yo dieting at all costs. ...
  5. Work out – but don't overdo it. ...
  6. Treat yourself to a green tea. ...
  7. Eat foods that are good for your gut. ...
  8. Drink some lemon juice.

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What is significant unexplained weight loss?

Weight loss of 10 pounds or more, or five percent of body weight, over a period of 6 to 12 months is considered “unexplained.” Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of a serious condition or illness.

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Is weight loss a symptom of all cancers?

Summary. Weight loss is not a symptom of all types of cancer. It can be caused for a variety of reasons. Sometimes weight loss is directly related to cancer, but other factors such as emotional distress and side effects of treatment can contribute to weight loss.

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Do all cancers result in weight loss?

The majority of cancer patients lose weight at some point in the course of the disease. Weight is sometimes the sign that leads someone to get diagnosed with cancer, but it may occur at any time, such as during treatment or in the advanced stages. Your eating habits may change.

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Do you always lose weight with cancers?

Not all cancer patients lose a lot of weight. In fact, there are some cancers that result in weight gain during treatment. Certain types of chemotherapy, hormone therapy and medicines, such as steroids, can cause the body to retain fluids or increase a patient's appetite so that they eat more, causing weight gain.

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Can heart problems cause weight loss?

Cardiac cachexia is a condition that can happen to people who have heart failure. It means you lose a serious amount of body fat, muscle, and bone. Doctors often call this “body wasting.” Once it begins, you can't reverse it simply by eating more.

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What is the best nutritional drink for seniors?

The Best Nutritional Drink For Seniors

If you're adding a nutritional drink between meals for seniors to help them meet their calorie goals, there are several drinks that aren't filled with sugar. These include Ensure High Protein shake, Ensure Light, Boost Max, Boost Glucose Control, Glucerna, and Premier.

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What food makes you gain weight the fastest?

Here are 18 of the best foods to help you gain weight or add muscle, the healthy way.
  1. Homemade protein smoothies. Drinking homemade protein smoothies can be a highly nutritious and quick way to gain weight. ...
  2. Milk. ...
  3. Rice. ...
  4. Nuts and nut butters. ...
  5. Red meats. ...
  6. Potatoes and starches. ...
  7. Salmon and oily fish. ...
  8. Protein supplements.

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What can I give my elderly mom to gain weight?

Foods to Help Elderly Gain Weight
  • Nut butters - Nuts tend to be difficult for seniors to chew and swallow, so try nut butters instead. ...
  • Avocados - avocados are high in healthy fat. ...
  • Full-fat dairy products - no more skim milk! ...
  • Potatoes and whole grain starches - try to add one of these to every meal.

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What unintentional weight loss looks like?

Unintentional weight loss is loss of 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) or 5% of your normal body weight over 6 to 12 months or less without knowing the reason.

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Is weight loss a symptom of dementia?

Unintentional body weight loss is common in patients with dementia and is linked to cognitive impairment and poorer disease outcomes.

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